Edinburgh (HRNW)- Police have called in the counter-terrorism unit after a series of attacks targeting Muslims in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. Five people were injured in the attacks and a suspect has been arrested.
Police Scotland said they received multiple emergency calls from various locations on Friday night reporting incidents of violence, threats, robbery and vandalism. Five people, aged between 22 and 39, were injured in the incidents.
Police said three of the injured were taken to hospital, but none were in a serious condition. A 36-year-old white Scottish man has been arrested and is being questioned.
According to British media reports, the initial incidents took place near a mosque in the Seathil area of Edinburgh, where two people were attacked. Later, three more people were targeted in other areas of the city.
Videos circulating on social media showed a man allegedly walking through the city streets with a large weapon. Some Muslim groups claim that the arrested man was shouting hateful slogans against Muslims.
The Scottish Association of Mosques and the organization “MEND,” which works to combat Islamophobia, said that many of the victims were Muslims. The organization has called for the incidents to be viewed in the context of Islamophobia and far-right terrorism.
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney expressed deep concern over the incident, saying that violence, racism and religious hatred have no place in the country.
Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton described the incidents as “deeply sad and shocking” and said that racism and religious hatred will not be tolerated in Scotland.
According to analysts, these incidents have occurred at a time when political and social tensions are increasing in the United Kingdom over issues of immigration, ethnic diversity and religious harmony.
In recent weeks, incidents have also been reported in various cities across the UK that have raised concerns among security agencies.
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